Generalised Mycielski graphs and the Borsuk-Ulam theorem (Q2327221)

Summary: \textit{M. Stiebitz} [Beiträge zur Theorie der färbungskritischen Graphen. Ilmenau: Technische Hochschule Ilmenau (Habil.) (1985)] determined the chromatic number of generalised Mycielski graphs using the topological method of Lovász, which invokes the Borsuk-Ulam theorem. \textit{Nguyen Van Ngoc} and \textit{Z. Tuza} [Discrete Math. 138, No. 1--3, 387--392 (1995; Zbl 0819.05025)] used elementary combinatorial arguments to prove Stiebitz's theorem for 4-chromatic generalised Mycielski graphs, and asked if there is also an elementary combinatorial proof for higher chromatic number. We answer their question by showing that Stiebitz's theorem can be deduced from a version of Fan's combinatorial lemma. Our proof uses topological terminology, but is otherwise completely discrete and could be rewritten to avoid topology altogether. However, doing so would be somewhat artificial, because we also show that Stiebitz's theorem is equivalent to the Borsuk-Ulam theorem.